1:32 Fairey Swordfish Mk.I

1:32 Fairey Swordfish Mk.I decals (Xtradecal)

A decal sheet in 1:32 scale for the British carrier-borne torpedo and reconnaissance biplane Fairey Swordfish in the Mk.I version. The product is a standalone accessory for a model you obtain separately, not a kit. The maker of the sheet is the British firm Xtradecal.

The real subject

The Swordfish was a carrier-borne biplane with a fixed undercarriage, fabric covering and open crew cockpits. Despite its archaic look it served throughout the Second World War and carried out torpedo attack, reconnaissance and maritime patrol duties. The Mk.I version represents the early production form of the type. For the modeler it matters that a large part of the surface is fabric stretched over ribs and spars, that is a surface that is not smooth.

Application tips

The ribbed fabric surface is the main pitfall with this type. A decal laid over a rib does not touch the base in the hollows and will crack or lighten once dry. The solution has two parts: trim the decal as closely to the print as possible, so that as little surplus film as possible is on the surface, and once it is settled, brush softener over it repeatedly but weakly until it drops into every groove. On the struts and around the bracing it helps to divide the decal with a cut along the rib and to settle it in sections. Seal the fuselage and the flying surfaces beforehand with a gloss clear coat; a matte fabric finish would silver under the film.

Who the sheet is for

• builders of large-scale models of biplanes
• modelers focused on carrier-borne aircraft of the Second World War
• those who want to mark a model differently from the contents of the box
• more experienced builders who can handle decals on a ribbed surface

The package contains the decal sheet only. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.